Tool for making connections



Dc. 1, 1931. J, R, STRALEY 1,834,436

TOOL FOR MAKING CONNECTIONS Filed Feb. 3. 1930 Patented Dec. 1, 1931 :roma n. STRALEY.- or Los ANGELES, cALn'onNm TOOL FOR MAKING CONNECTIONS Application. mea February 3, 1930. serial No. 425,689.

This invention relates to a device adapted to be employed in making a connection, and it is a general object of the invention to provide a device particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with the carrying out of the method set forth and claimed in my co-pending application entitled Connection and method of making a connection. Serial Number 425,688, filed February 3, 1930.

An object of the invention i's to provide a 4device 'or tool that is adapted to grip or confine a member, such as a malleable connector,

'so that it is .prevented from becoming distorted in its general configuration when worked upon or acted uponl to cause it to grip a cable or like part.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned that Aembodies means for setting the gripping or confining parts in operative position on a connector, or the like, so that an operator may carry out the various steps of making the connection without retaining his hold on the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character` mentioned that is simple and inexpensive of manufacture 'and is convenient to handle or operate.

`A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned that may be employedr in inconvenient situations and that may be readily used by unskilled operators.

r Other objects and features of my invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical form and'application of the invention, throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an end view of the device showing it arranged around a connector carrying a cable. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the device. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view taken as indicated 'by line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end view of the handles of the device, being a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the punch or set provided by the present invention, and Fig. 6 is a View of a portion of the punch, being a view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 5.

The tool or device provided by the present invention .is intended primarily to be employed in connection with the method of making a connection between two parts such as a holder and a cable or two cables, or the like, and is intended to be used in conjunction with the method of making a connection set forth in my co-pending application identified i above. To facilitate a complete understanding of the utility of the device provided by the present invention, I will describe in a general manner the method with which the device is adapted to be employed. In the following detailed description of the tool or device I will describe it as used in connection with the joining or connecting of two lengths of cable A and B. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited to this particular application, but is to be taken as including the features or modifications that may 'fall within the scope of the claims. i

The method in connection with which the device provided by this invention is intended to be used provides that the end portions of the two parts such as the two lengths of cable.

A and B be arranged in openings or an opening 10 in a body or connector 11 of malleable material and includes, acting on the connector 11 at spaced points bearing certain relationships to cause the cables A and B within the connector 11 to be securely gripped by the connector while confining the connector so that the fibres of the material of the connector between the points of action are not weakened.

The connector 1l illustrated in the drawings consists of an elongatedtubular body of malleable material. In the particular case illustrated the connectorll is provided with a single central longitudinal opening 10 receiving end portions of the cables A and B. As initially formed, the opening 10 of the connector 11 is a straight opening of round cross section which is just suficiently large to receive the cables lA and B. The opening l0 preferably extends from one end of the connector 11 to the other. The particular form of connector illustrated when initially formed, is of round cross sectional configuration. The connector 11 is preferably of uniform size and configuration .throughout its length.

The tool or device provided by this invention includes, generally, two pivotally connected sections 12 and 13 having grooves 14 and 15, respectively, which are brought into register to receive and confine the connector 11 when the sections are in operating position, operating handles 16 on the sections, means 17 for setting the sections 12 and 13 in operating or confining position around the connector 11, and a punch or set 18 adapted to be arranged in openings 19 in the sections I12 and 13 to be brought into engagement with the exterior of the connector 11 and adapted .to be struck to communicate blows to the connector.

The sections 12 and 13 are provided to surround or confine the connector 11 to retain it in its original configuration While being acted upon through the openings 19 by means of the punch or set 18. The sections 12 and 13 may be alike in their general form and may be in the nature of rectangular plates. The sections 12 and 13 are preferably suiiciently long to extend over substantially the entire connector 11. The inner sides 20 of the sections 12 and 13 that are brought into approximate abutment when thesections are operated to the confining position, are preferably flat and are parallel when the sections are in the coniining position, such as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In the form of the invention shown the outer sides 21 of the sections 12 and 13 are fiat and are parallel to the inner sides 20. The sections 12 and 13 are hingedly or pivotally connected at one of their longitu dinal edges.

The sections 12 and 13 may be pivotally connected in any suitable manner. In the particular form of the invention illustrated 1n the drawings spaced arms 22 project outwardly from an edge of each of the sections. The arms 22 are spaced apart longitudinally of the sections, and in the case shown there is an arm 22 provided on each section adjacent each end. The arms 22 of the sections 12 and 13 are preferably related so that the' arms 22 of one section are adjacent to or 1n overlapping engagement with the arms 22 of the other section to prevent relative longitudinal movement between the sec tions. A pivot bolt 23 extending longitudinally of the sections 12 and 13 extends through transverse openings 24 in the arms 22 to pivotally connect the sections 12 and 13. Suitable keys 25 may be arranged transversely through the bolt 23 to retain the bolt in position.

The grooves 14 and 15 of the sections 12 and 13, in the case where the connector 11 1s of round cross section, 'are shaped so that when the sections are in operative position they form an opening of round cross sectional coniiguration to receive or carry the connector. The grooves 14 and 1 5 extend longitudinally of the sections and preferably extend the entire length of the sections. The grooves 14 and 15 may be centrally spaced between the edges of the sections and are preferably parallel to-the axis of pivotal movement of the sections. i

The openings 19 are spaced longitudinally of the sections 12 and 13 and extend transversely through each of the sections to extend into or communicate with the grooves 14 and 15. The openings 19 are preferably of round cross section. The openings 19 ci:- tendradially relative to the axes of the grooves 14 and 15. The axes of the several openings 19 in the sections 12 and 13 are parallel when the sections are in the operating position illustrated in Fig.. 1v of the drawings. The openings 19 of one section are offset relative to the openings 19 of the other 'y section, that is, the openingsr19 in the section 12 are staggered or offset longitudinally of the sections relative to the openings 19 of the section 13. In the particular case illustrated I have shown two series of three openings 19 in the section 12 and have illustrated two series of two openings 19 in the section 13. The openings 19 in the sections 12 and 13 are located so that the portions of the connection 11 carrying the end parts of the cables A and B may be acted upon or distorted to cause the cables to be securely gripped by the connector. The axes of the openings 19 of the section 13 are preferably spaced intermediate the axes of the openings 19 of the section 12.

An operating handle 16 is provided on cach ofl thesections 12 and 13. The handles 16 preferably project outwardly from a longitudinal edge of each section. The handles 16 may each include an outer or main portion 30 and may be yoked to have two inner arms 31 connected to the sections 12 and 13. The ends-of the arms 31 may be secured to the sections in any desired manner. Inv the case illustrated the ends of the arms 31 extend into openings or sockets in the edges of the sections and may be welded in the sockets. The outer or main portions 30 of the liandles may be comparatively long and are shaped and proportioned so that they can be conveniently gripped by an operator in the course of operating the device.

The means 17 for setting or retaining the sections 12 and 13 in the operating or contining position on the connector 11 is preferably arranged in connection with the handles 16. The means 17 may include a U-shaped member or link 33 pivotally connected to one handie 16 and ada ted to engage over the other handle to retaln the handles 16 in definite relative positions. The. link 33 is pivotally lio connected to the outer or main portion 30 of one handle 16 adjacent its outer end. The spaced arms of the'link 33 are arranged at opposite sides of the portion 30 and are connected with the handle 16 by means of a pivot pin 34. The pin 34 extends through a transverse opening in the portion 30 of the handle. The link 33 is adapted to be swung or operated from a position where it engages arranged in any one ot the openings 19 ofthe two sections and has an active end portion 36 to extend into an opening 19 to engage the exterior of the connector 11, and an out-er portion 37 to project from a section. rlhe projecting portion 37 may be provided with la laterally projecting handle 42 adapted to be gripped or held by an operator while employing the set. 1n the case illustrated the outer portion 37 of the set is polygonal. The punch or set 18 is `preferably made of tempered tool steel or otherv hard material. The outerend 38 of the set 18 is preferably made iiat so that it may be eiectively struck' by a hammer or like tool. The outer portion 37 of the set 18 is preferably made larger in diameter than the openings '19 so that the active portion 36 of the set is of reduced diameter. As the portion 36 is. of less diameter than the portion 37, a radial shoulder 40 is provided at the base or outer end of the active portion 36.2 rihe length of the active portion 36 depends upon the thickness ci the sections 12 and 13 and upon the extent of the distortion or impression that itis desired to' form in the connector 11. The extreme end of the active part 36 is rounded in one direction,

` that is its' end is curved or rounded about an axis extending transversely of the set 18.. In accordance with the preferred manner of employing the set 18 the set is arranged in an opening 19sothat the axis of curvature of 'the end of the set is transverse of the longitudinal'axis of the connector 11.A The handle 42 is related to the active end of the set so that when the set 'is arranged in an opening 19 with the handle l2 parallel to the handle portions 30, the curved end of the set is disposed inthe proper manner transversely of the connector. lf desired or in the event the set 18 is formed without a handle, an indicating mark 41 may be provided on the outer l portion 37 of the yset so that the position of the end of the set may be determined when the set is in an opening 19.

In ei'nploying the device provided by the present invention the sections 12 and 13 are arranged over the connector 11 so that the connector is arrangedin the opening formed by the grooves le and. 15. The sections 12 and 13 are securely clamped onto the vconnector 11 by means of the operating handles and the link 33 may be employed to or hold the .sections in this ipping position.` The set 18 may be arrangedl` in an opening 19 and then struck so that its end formsa depression on the exterior'of the connector 11 to distort the connector inwardly so that it securely grips a cable. The extent of the action imparted to the connector 11 is limited by the shoulder 40 of the set 18 which strikes the outer side of one of the sections to limit theinward movement of the set. The set 18 is adapted to be arranged in each of the openings 19 in the'sections 12 and 13 where it may be employed in the above manner to causethe connector 11 to be brought into tight gripping engagement with the cables A and Having described onl a typical referred form of my invention, do not wis to limit myself tothe specific details set' forth, but

wish 'to reserve to myself any changes or .i

variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall Within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, l. claim:

1. A device adapted to be used on a connector including, a set for acting on the connector, two pivotally connected sections havinggrooves related to torni an opening to hold the connector when the sections are in operating position and having longitudinally i spaced openings Vadapted to receive the set, the openings in one section bein longitudinally oil'set relative to the openings of the other section.

2. A device adapted to .be used on a connector including, a set for acting on theconnector, two pi'votally connected sections having 'grooves related .to form 'an opening to hold theconnector when the sections are in operating position and having openings communicating with the grooves at longitudinally spaced points and adapted to receive the said set, the openings in one section being longitudinally oii'set relative to the openings of the other sections,handles on the sections,l and means on the handles for releasably holding the sections in the said operating position.

In witness that l claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of January, 1930.

. JOHN RAYMOND STRALEY.

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